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SUVA, Fiji Islands (November 2, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Fiji's Indo-Fijian dominated National Federation Party has reiterated its call for the scrapping of the commission established by the country's un-elected government to review the constitution.

The party's general-secretary, Attar Singh, renewed the call after the Indo-Fijian community shunned three public hearings convened this week by the 12-member Constitutional Review Commission.

The commission began deliberations in Rakiraki, a small town on the northwest coast of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, on Monday.

But three days and three towns later, only a sole Indo-Fijian has appeared before the commission.

The Pacific News Agency reported that it is a clear sign that the Indo-Fijian community is staying away from the exercise.

APIA, Samoa (November 2, 2000 - Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online)---A first-time overseas visitor to the National University of Samoa could be forgiven for mispronouncing the location of this gleaming new campus at Le Papaigalagala, set amid the hills and palm trees overlooking the capital, Apia.

Sina Vaai has heard it mispronounced many times - but not by any of the students in the three-year undergraduate program that she and others teach in Samoan studies at the institution. "Don’t forget the silent G," Vaai, a professor of language, says with a smile.

Pa-pa-E-ala-ala. The vowels roll like the shoreline of the South Pacific visible from the campus gates. Le Papaigalagala, which means "the rock where life is refreshed," takes its name from the formation of red rock near the stream beside which this institution was built in 1997. Like much else in this island nation of 170,000 inhabitants, the word comes packed with legendary overtones.

APIA, Samoa (November 2, 2000 - Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online)---The Apia RSA band Tatiana and its proprietor Amituanai Faleulu Mauli are proudly presenting the official release of the lyrics of the song dedicated to Samoan boxer and national icon David Tua.

The inspiration for this song is not only the countdown towards the world heavyweight title fight, but the pride and endeavor of Samoa to get behind David Tua.

In the past two years, the RSA Band has struggled with the costly effort of recording and mixing overseas. However, with the recent release of the new album and the success of the band in the club, it has been possible to set up studio in Samoa for the production of a completely Samoan product.

The song was written by Amituanai, the modest proprietor of the club, manager of the band and who also has a private passion for the "written word." The lyrics and arrangements were mixed by Hemi (Jr.) Maiava Solomona and Si'uleo Vitale and the song is by...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (November 2, 2000 – Pasifik Nius/ Wansolwara, USP Journalism Programme/Niuswire)---Fiji’s political crisis has forced the University of the South Pacific to fast-track its regional education programs based on satellite technology - but many staff and students are questioning the change.

Some fear that multi-modal - or flexible learning - may erode face-to-face teaching.

Others question whether the university is properly prepared with resources and staff since the F$13 million (US$ 5,726,500) USPNet 2000 communications upgrade launched earlier this year.

But acting director of extension studies Richard Wah told Wansolwara there was a problem over the "mindset" of some staff detractors.

He said USP needed to move to multi-modal teaching "for its survival" in the face of increased competition from foreign universities seeking to set up their campuses in Fiji and the region.

It was rumored that members of the CRWU would regroup and launch an assault on the Fiji Military Forces (FMF). With 30 weapons still missing and a CRWU soldier still on the run with notorious criminal Alifereti Nimacere, rumors were rife in Suva that there will be another attempted takeover and that this may happen during the 10th of October Fiji Day or on the 27th October when the Hindu community in Fiji celebrated the festival of lights- Diwali.

On 26 October, some 15 soldiers involved in the takeover of the Parliament on 19 May were released on bail under the Control of Movement Order. The rebel soldiers promised the army commander that they would refrain from further acts of terror and would comply with the provisions of the Emergency Decree. Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Coalition denounced the release and criticised the army for not being firm with the terrorists.

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (Nov. 2, 2000 – Saipan Tribune)---Government revenues during the first six months of the financial year 2000 dropped nine percent to $101.3 million from the average $111.45 million in the same period last year, according to a report obtained from the commerce department.

Officials said the first half decline in government earnings is a clear indication that the Northern Marianas economy continues weaker than the pre-1997 period although most Asian economies have already bounced back.

Finance managers blame the significant drop in revenue collection during the first half of fiscal year 2000 to the weak consumer confidence that continues to prevail on the islands, aggravated by the sudden shift in the spending habits of CNMI visitors.

Records from the finance department submitted to the Central Statistics Division disclosed that the average quarterly collection in FY 2000 also fell nine...

This follows the disclosure that an Australian company’s proposal to lease part of Suwarrow Island is said to be in the hands of government officials and ministers.

Environmental groups in the Cook Islands are horrified that the government may agree to the lease proposal, helping clear the way for Australian pearl farming and fisheries ventures on Suwarrow without a proper, independent management plan of the island being done first.

The Development Investment Board (DIB) has received a formal application for two separate ventures from the Australian company -- black pearl farming and tuna fisheries.

SUVA, Fiji Islands (November 5, 2000 – Agence France-Presse)---Fiji was facing military dictatorship Sunday as evidence mounted that a military mutiny Thursday was part of a wider power struggle that has turned into brutal revenge with soldiers beating other soldiers to death.

It was revealed Sunday that former Prime Minister and coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka is now a major suspect and is under investigation for his role in the mutiny at Queen Elizabeth Barracks Thursday which left eight people dead and more than 30 with injuries ranging from critical to mild.

Since the incident, which has been portrayed so far as an ill-planned attempt to assassinate Fiji Military Forces commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, the country was in-effect under martial law, first imposed following George Speight's unsuccessful May 19 coup. Arbitrary military arrests, shootings and beatings have been reported locally since Thursday.

The plane was forced to return to Garaina airstrip where the gold was stolen by six armed men.

Northern border coastal commander Alfred Reu confirmed that the aircraft, owned by North Coast Aviation, was transporting a shipment of gold from Wau to Port Moresby.

Mr. Reu said the plane picked up two passengers from Nadzab airport and flew to Wau. At Wau the plane picked up another two passengers and the gold and was on its way to Port Moresby when the pilot was forced at gunpoint by the two men he picked up from Wau to land at Garaina airstrip.

Mr. Reu said that as the plane landed at Garaina, they were robbed by four men who were waiting on the airstrip who, with the two aboard the plane,...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.